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Found this fanfic via the Conan TVTropes fanfic recommendation page, and think it has to be one of the best fanfics I've ever read. It attacks the "Failure Is The Only Option" nature of the necessity that Ran not find out Conan's secret identity as Shinichi in a way that is believable and internally consistent with the way the characters act in the show. The author has a good grasp of continuity, too, pulling in all sorts of supporting examples (though there are a couple that he missed because he didn't know or forgot about), and there's a totally brilliant use of Sherlock Holmes's faked death as metaphor for Shinichi's disappearance.

This is an amazing story that darned well ought to be canon. I only wish the events of the show itself could someday unfold that way!

By the way, you can read it (or any other fanfiction.net fanfic) on an iPhone or other EPUB-capable device by using this fanfic downloader web app.

thanks for the info

i guess ill take a look

I just reread the last couple chapters of it today, and it still stands up.

It's so good it's actually a little frustrating to know that the events of the anime probably won't play out this way.

Wow. I loved it.
It really pulls you into the story.
Great writing. =D!

Robotech_Master wrote:Found this fanfic via the Conan TVTropes fanfic recommendation page, and think it has to be one of the best fanfics I've ever read. It attacks the "Failure Is The Only Option" nature of the necessity that Ran not find out Conan's secret identity as Shinichi in a way that is believable and internally consistent with the way the characters act in the show. The author has a good grasp of continuity, too, pulling in all sorts of supporting examples (though there are a couple that he missed because he didn't know or forgot about), and there's a totally brilliant use of Sherlock Holmes's faked death as metaphor for Shinichi's disappearance.

This is an amazing story that darned well ought to be canon. I only wish the events of the show itself could someday unfold that way!

By the way, you can read it (or any other fanfiction.net fanfic) on an iPhone or other EPUB-capable device by using this fanfic downloader web app.

Lucked onto finding it years back, and I can't recommend it enough. I mean, fics dealing with Ran finding out the truth tend to be a frequent thing, which is understandable since the manga hasn't done it yet. But this one puts a lot of thought into it.

Things like:
1. Making note of details overlooked, like Ran questing Agasa on why he takes care of Haibara, even though he claimed that he's too busy to take care of any children.

2. This is probably one that seldom is done well. Ran's reaction to the truth. Sometimes she flat out hates him, others have her taking it calmly, with just being mildly annoyed.

I mean of course it would be nice for her to forgive him, but this isn't some casual thing like telling someone that their say haircut looks funny. I mean, even if not intentional, he sees her in how shall I put it? Intimate situations, and all of the times that she stumbles onto the truth only to be misled can't be good for her esteem level (making someone doubt their intelligence).

I'm not even trying to come down on Conan/Shinichi either, but I think that while it's plausible for Ran to be forgiving, it wouldn't be out of place for her to have some hurt feelings along the way.

And that's what helps to make this fic all the more enjoyable. How she ultimately deals with it makes sense, and doesn't disappoint.

So if you haven't yet, read it.

As others have touched upon, the only real disappointment is that the canon story might actually be underwhelming in the end.

I always felt that Ran knows the truth, in a way. But she won't believe it or act on it because she said she would "wait for him". Wait for him to tell the truth and wait for him to return. She has a tendency to know Shin better then himself after all. I think she's not the only one who knows either but they don't confront him but just trust he has his reasons. Surely If Eisuke, a stranger and never MET Shinichi can figure it out then surely people who know him will know. Right?

But then the most probable Canon end in my mind is one where she never finds out at all. You know, the least interesting option with least conflict /facepalming

Will check out read, thanks!

kirite wrote:But then the most probable Canon end in my mind is one where she never finds out at all. You know, the least interesting option with least conflict /facepalming

Well one thing I can say is that had the story been only 6 months long this ending may not be too problematic.

But even factoring the "floating timeline", the build up of key moments help to feel like more time has passed than it should, and as such, makes this one come underwhelming.

And I think this is the one case where the story benefits being written by a fan. Though not canon, it provides a lot off emotional payoff to an aspect of the series which has had (and likely will have) a lot of drama to it.